Copenhagen: The World No. 3 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand once again secured a spot in the World Championships finals, after losing to Viktor Axelsen in the final of the 2022 edition.
Highlights of Kunlavut Vitidsarn vs. HS Prannoy in the 2023 World Championships semi-finals:
In the intense men’s singles semi-finals of the 2023 Badminton World Championships on Saturday which was keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats, Thailand’s rising star Kunlavut Vitidsarn came back from one game down to overcome India’s HS Prannoy 18-21, 21-13, 21-14 in a fierce battle that lasted for 1 hour 16 minutes.
In the other semi-final clash, Japan’s fourth seed, Kodai Naraoka, also staged a remarkable comeback from 10-16, 11-17 to win 25-23 in the first set against Denmark’s Anders Antonsen.
After the interval of the second set, it became a one-sided game as Naraoka quickly opened up the lead to win 21-12.
Highlights of Kodai Naraoka vs. Anders Antonsen in the 2023 World Championships semi-finals:
Sunday’s meeting with be Kunlavut and Naraoka’s seventh career head-to-head meeting, with their current head-to-head record staying at 3-3.
In men’s doubles, defending champions Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik fell short of defending their title by going down to Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae of Korea 21-23, 13-21, marking the end of their journey at the 2023 World Championships.
Highlights of Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik vs. Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae in the 2023 World Championships semi-finals:
Despite the loss, Chia/Soh shone brightly throughout the competition, clinching a well-deserved bronze medal and the only medal won by the Malaysian team at the 2023 Worlds.
Their achievement in the 2023 edition also gave them the privilege to become the fourth Malaysian pair who at least advanced to the semi-finals in two consecutive World Championships. Before this, it was Razif Sidek/Jalani Sidek in 1987 and 1989, Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock in 1995 and 1997, and Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong in 2009 and 2010.
Interestingly, the last time a South Korean pair made it to the men’s doubles final was back in 2014, when the World Championships were also held in Copenhagen. In the 2014 final, two South Korean pairs Ko Sung-hyun/Shin Baek-cheol and Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon-seong were crossing swords, with Ko/Shin eventually clinching the championship title.
Kang/Seo will face the seasoned Danish veteran Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the final.
The eleventh-seeded Astrup/Rasmussen triumphed over China’s third seeds, Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang in a thrilling encounter before concluding with scores of 17-21, 21-18, 21-19. The last time a Denmark men’s pair had won the world title was in 2003 through Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen.
In addition to the men’s doubles final, Seo Seung Jae also advanced to the mixed doubles final with his partner Chae Yu Jung. They will meet No. 1 seeds Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong of China on Sunday.
